East Bengal FC Women strengthened their grip at the top of the Indian Women’s League (IWL) table with an emphatic 4-2 victory over Sethu FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday, March 21st, 2025. The Red and Golds, led by Elshaddai Acheampong’s brilliant performance, extended their lead to four points ahead of their nearest rivals.
From the onset, East Bengal set a fast pace, with Acheampong scoring twice early on, in the 5th and 16th minutes, to establish a commanding lead. “It’s great to start with two goals like that; it gives us confidence,” Acheampong remarked after the match.
Despite Sethu FC’s attempts to regroup, East Bengal’s relentless offensive pressure proved difficult to withstand. Resty Nanziri added another just before the end of the first half, allowing East Bengal to go into halftime with a 3-1 advantage.
Sethu FC did manage to respond, with Amnah Nababi scoring in the 18th minute, showcasing their resilience. Hadijah Nandago’s goal in the 64th minute further bridged the gap, but it wasn’t enough to overcome East Bengal’s initial lead. Nandago noted, “We worked hard to close the gap, but we fell short.”
Ultimately, Soumya Guguloth sealed East Bengal’s victory with a goal in the 88th minute, finishing off a well-constructed play initiated by Acheampong. This victory brought East Bengal’s points tally to 24 from nine matches, while Sethu FC staggered with just 10 points, now sitting in sixth place.
Meanwhile, in a thrilling contest at the Capital Football Arena in Bhubaneswar, Nita FA staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Odisha FC 2-1. The match unfolded dramatically, with Odisha FC taking an early lead through Neha in the 11th minute. Their dominance was evident in the early stages, as they controlled possession and created opportunities, yet they couldn’t extend their lead.
Nita FA, despite a slow start, found their momentum mid-match. Rahama Jafaru equalized in the 72nd minute with a composed finish, having expertly navigated through Odisha’s defense. The shift in momentum was palpable as Jafaru turned from scorer to provider, delivering a pinpoint cross to Manisha Naik, who scored with a powerful header just three minutes later.
“We knew we had to step it up in the second half,” Jafaru said, embodying the spirit of Nita FA’s comeback. Their victory propelled them to third place in the league standings with 13 points from nine matches, while Odisha FC slipped to fifth with 11 points.
The results of the day underlined the competitive nature of the IWL, showcasing the resilience and talent spread across teams. East Bengal’s rise continues to add pressure on the chasing teams, while Nita FA’s resurgence could signal a critical shift in their season.
